NAMCO BANDAI GAMES TO PUBLISH SAINT SEIYA: THE HADES FOR PS2

Stunning new fighter based on greatest saga from revered Japanese anime

Wednesday 28th June 2006 – Atari, one of Australia’s leading sources of interactive entertainment, announces the forthcoming release of Saint Seiya: The Hades from NAMCO BANDAI Games for PlayStation2. Following the release of Saint Seiya: The Sanctuary in 2005, Saint Seiya: The Hades takes the Saint Seiya video game experience to the next level boasting a story from the most widely acclaimed chapter of the saga plus an overdose of innovative features and stunning enhancements designed to bring players closer than ever to the universe of mind-blowing 3D Cosmo battles. Published by NAMCO BANDAI Games and distributed in Australia by Atari, Saint Seiya: The Hades is scheduled for release in spring 2006.

The story of Saint Seiya: The Hades is taken directly from the highly respected manga of the same name that have only recently been made into an anime television series and which are hailed by many fans as the greatest in the Saint Seiya saga. For maximum authenticity, the story of the game is based mainly on the original manga with cut scenes taken from the anime. The story takes places as the Specters, thanks to the awakening of Hades, begin to claim back their powers after being restrained for 243 years by Athena's might. It is your destiny to do battle with the supreme commander of Hell and his armies to overcome the impending devastation.

Saint Seiya: The Hades offers something extra special for all fans of anime and fighting games. The development team have put their hearts and souls into developing a fighting system worthy of this seminal manga and anime with spectacular results.

Developer DIMPS has brought a wealth of new elements and enhancements to the fighting systems of Saint Seiya: The Hades, with technically dazzling rapid-fire battles on a massive battle stage which accommodates a greater breadth of range attacks, counter-attacks and blistering combos. The fighting has been tuned throughout to give the player fiercely dynamic battles where one right or wrong move can have catastrophic effects. The enhanced Cosmo system lets players make the most of the all-new special attacks to inflict grave damage on their opponent.

Saint Seiya: The Hades is scheduled for release on PlayStation2 across Europe in autumn 2006.